Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-02-03
LOTS CHOICE.
NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

ntroduction.-Abram went to Egypt on
account of famine in Canaan. We learn
from other sources that the race of Shemites
frequently went thither, and that many of
them were dwelling in Egypt in the time of
the patriarch. The narrative told of Abrams
visit there is said by Egyptian scholars to be
true to life down to the minutest details. 1t
was no idle fear that Abram entertained that
his wife might be taken from him, for in
Egyptian story we read of a similar case.
The conduct of the patriarch in resorting to
falsehood to protect himself is indeed dark
stlin on his character; but we must remem-
Der that he had come out from a heathen
country, where the standard of morality was
very low. He had no helps whatever In his
surroundings Moreover, Scripture does not
present the Old Testament patriarchs as
model saints 1t exhibits them as they are
Noah in his drunkenness Gen. tx, 2D and
Abram in his deception Gen. Xii, 1S)-and it
shows how through Gods grace they and
men like them, who by nature are sinners,
are pardoned and made heirs of his promises.
THE LESSON.
Seeking first the kingdom Of God-Abram
recognizes the calling Of God. He does not
remain in Egypt any longer than is neces-
sary. He went there on account of the
famine. As soon as it is over he leaves the
country. He is under Gods direction. All
his journeyings are ords red by him. Under
such leadership, although he did not go to
Egypt to get wealth, he secures it. From a
New Testament point of view, he had sought
first the kingdom of God and his righteous
ness, and the things which he did not seek, but
which men most earnestly desire, in the shape
Of worldly prosperity, were added. 1t would be
well if every one beginning life would deter
mine to seek first the kingdom of God, to
settle first the question as to his Christian
hope If God sees that man is likely to be
good steward, after this question has been
settled, he can make him rich.
Abram journeyed unto the south" after he
went up from Egypt; not that he took
southerly course, but that he went to the
lower part of Canaan, which was called the
south.
The House of God First Tvs. 8, 4.-To what
point do his eyes turn in his homeward jour-
ney to his adopted countryl To an altar, to
the house of God His first thought was not
how he might increase his possessions or find
the most pleasant spot in the land, but it was
the desire to worship God in a consecrated
place which attracted his footsteps. He was
like David in his love of the place where God
was worshiped.
%There Abram called on the name of the
Lord" That will be happy life that is be-
gun in true religion. That will be prosper
GUS home that is set up in prayer. We may
all well say to the Lord at the beginning of
any new undertaking: @If thy presence go
not with me, carry US not up hence"
The First Peacemaker ". 5.-Not only are
Gods servants often blessed in the acquisition
Of property, but also those who are with them,
for their sakes. Lot appears to have been
blessed on Abrams account. Laban was
blessed on account of Jacob (Gen. xxx, %;
Potiphar on account of Joseph Gen xxx,
s..
vs. 81. 1t was almost impossible to avoid
contention between the herdmen- In coun-
try like that Of Canaan, where there is no
rain for many weeks and where wells are
scarce and very valuable, there were special
reasons for annoyance, and these were aggra-
waited by the presence of the Canaanite and
Perrizite in the land, who would require their
share of pasture and water.
VS.. 8, 9. The quarrel which began with the
herdmen was likely to embitter the relations
between Abram and his nephew. He there
fore proposes that they should separate, and
is model to all who have dispute. As
older, Abram had the right to choose the
better part of the land for himself. As more
powerful, he could have easily enforced that
right; but he is determined to have no quar-
rel Because in the Semitic sense of the term
be and Lot are brethren, that is, near rela-
tives, he is ready to yield what is rightfully
his In this he is the first great peacemaker,
and an example of Christian meekness and
forbearance to people in this grasping age.
Lots Selfish Choice Tvs. 10, IDIOT is
good example of the people who are always
crowding for the best places, and who have
no regard for the rights of others in carrying
out their selfish plans Lot saw the beautiful
plain of the Jordan, which lay before him
like the garden of the Lord, like the land of
Egypt, which they had just left, possibly in
all the loveliness of early spring He was not
even courteous enough to suggest that his
uncle should take it. He was not grateful
enough to think that his uncle, who had been
his guardian, deserved it, and that every con-
sideration of honor and gratitude should have
led him to insist that Abram should choose
first Thoroughly selfish, he was evidently
afraid to trust him to make the choice, and
therefore, like far-sighted man of the world,
he takes the best for himself.
VS.. 10, 13 Lot desired to be rich. He
others, he does not seem to have inquired
about the character of the people to whom he
was going At that time he probably had
young children-daughters. He did not raise
the question as to the influences under which
they might be thrown. New Testament
writer, on the contrary, tells US that Abram
and the other patriarchs sought city which
hath foundations, whose builder and maker is
LII IN firvaIl in far1fc.
but Lot dwelt in one city of the plain after
another, removing his tent from place to
place, until he reached Sodom. According to
the revised version, he pitched his tent as far
as Sodom. The sacred writer casts dark
shadow on his choice-sNow the men of
Sodom were wicked and sinners against the
Lord exceedingly" Lot, therefore, in choosing
wealth as the most important thing, in his
selfshness and his greedineSs to obtain it had
finally pitched his tent under the very walls
of one Of the most wicked cities of antiquity.
We need not be surprised to read in the next
account of him that he was in Sodom itself
(Gen. xiv, ~.
POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED
1. Scripture does not present the Old Tes-
lament patriarchs as model saints.
2. Goodness is profitable unto all things,
having promise of the life that now is, and Of
that which is to come"
8. That will be happy life that is begun
in true religion.
4. Christians are often the source of tenn
poral blessings to their neighbors and friends.
5. 1t is infinitely better to suffer wrong
than to do wrong compare Cor. vi, y.
8. A man seeks to be rich through mean
ness and an utter disregard of the rights OF
others, sells himself to do evil Compare
Kings xxi, 80.
Z. The man who pitches his tent near
Sodom will soon pitch it in Sodom.--Sunday
School World. Ga
Dared Them to Hang Him.
Prisoner-But do you think they will hang
MI
Counsel-Let them do IL il they dare. 1t